S.F. man wanted by FBI known in public relations circles

FBI seeks suspect after explosives found in raid of S.F. apartment

Updated 12:39 am, Monday, June 2, 2014

Photo: Courtesy, FBI

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Federal agents were searching for Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II in connection with a raid in San Francisco on Saturday, May 31, 2014. An FBI official said Chamberlain is considered armed and dangerous, and driving a white Nissan Altima with California or Texas plates. less

Federal agents were searching for Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II in connection with a raid in San Francisco on Saturday, May 31, 2014. An FBI official said Chamberlain is considered armed and dangerous, and driving ... more

Photo: Courtesy, FBI

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Federal agents were searching for Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II in connection with a raid in San Francisco on Saturday, May 31, 2014. An FBI official said Chamberlain is considered armed and dangerous, and driving a white Nissan Altima with California or Texas plates. less

Federal agents were searching for Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II in connection with a raid in San Francisco on Saturday, May 31, 2014. An FBI official said Chamberlain is considered armed and dangerous, and driving ... more

Photo: Courtesy, FBI

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Ryan Chamberlain is seen in this undated San Francisco Chronicle employee ID photo.

Ryan Chamberlain is seen in this undated San Francisco Chronicle employee ID photo.

Photo: The Chronicle

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FBI spokesperson Peter Lee addresses the press on Turk St. regarding Saturday's investigation of an apartment on Polk St. in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, June 1, 2014. FBI and SFPD investigated the apartment of Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II for dangerous materials. less

FBI spokesperson Peter Lee addresses the press on Turk St. regarding Saturday's investigation of an apartment on Polk St. in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, June 1, 2014. FBI and SFPD investigated the ... more

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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FBI spokesperson Peter Lee addresses the press on Turk St. regarding Saturday's investigation of an apartment on Polk St. in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, June 1, 2014. FBI and SFPD investigated the apartment of Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II for dangerous materials. less

FBI spokesperson Peter Lee addresses the press on Turk St. regarding Saturday's investigation of an apartment on Polk St. in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, June 1, 2014. FBI and SFPD investigated the ... more

Photo: James Tensuan, The Chronicle

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Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

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Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

Agents in haz-mat suits are seen as the FBI searches a building on Jackson St. between Polk and Van Ness in San Francisco, CA, Saturday May 31, 2014.

A law enforcement agent hangs a curtain to obstruct the view of the public and the press while FBI agents serve a warrant at a building on Jackson Street near Polk on May 31, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif.

A law enforcement agent hangs a curtain to obstruct the view of the public and the press while FBI agents serve a warrant at a building on Jackson Street near Polk on May 31, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif.

Law enforcement agents in HAZMAT suits help decontaminate and remove the suit of an agent that just exited a building on Jackson Street near Polk where the FBI was serving a warrant on May 31, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif. less

Law enforcement agents in HAZMAT suits help decontaminate and remove the suit of an agent that just exited a building on Jackson Street near Polk where the FBI was serving a warrant on May 31, 2014 in San ... more

FBI spokesperson Peter Lee addresses the press on Turk St. regarding Saturday's investigation of an apartment on Polk St. in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, June 1, 2014. FBI and SFPD investigated the apartment of Ryan Kelly Chamberlain II for dangerous materials. less

FBI spokesperson Peter Lee addresses the press on Turk St. regarding Saturday's investigation of an apartment on Polk St. in San Francisco, Calif. on Sunday, June 1, 2014. FBI and SFPD investigated the ... more

A self-described political junkie with an extensive background in Bay Area public relations is the subject of a nationwide manhunt after FBI agents said they found explosives in his San Francisco apartment.

Lee provided few details about the investigation during the agency's first press conference on the probe Sunday, but said Chamberlain is probably driving a white Nissan Altima with either California or Texas license plates 7FQY085 and BX9M042 respectively.

The agency said Chamberlain is wanted for allegedly possessing explosives in his home. Lee said agents believe Chamberlain was acting alone. Authorities declined to describe the type of explosives found at the apartment. Nor did they state why the suspect may have amassed the material, saying the investigation is still ongoing.

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No biological threats

Contrary to some media reports, authorities said, they did not find any ricin or other chemical or biological threats in the residence. But, Lee said, "He did possess explosives at his residence."

Photos released by the FBI match pictures of Chamberlain that accompany his online profiles. He is 6-foot-3 and weighs 225 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, Lee said. Authorities said anyone who encounters him should call 911 rather than approach him.

Chamberlain is a familiar face in San Francisco's political circles who has worked on many campaigns, focusing on social media, said Alex Clemens, founder of San Francisco's Barbary Coast Consulting.

"It's a small pond, and people in the industry tend to know each other," he said.

In October 2009, Clemens contracted with Chamberlain to work on a campaign.

"I'm worried about the guy. I'm hoping this ends without anybody getting hurt. I'm flabbergasted that this seems to be taking place," he said.

Known in political circles

Mark Mosher, creative director of San Francisco consulting firm BMWL, said Chamberlain was hired by almost every local political consulting firm at one point or another. As recently as Friday, he was chiming in on Mosher's Facebook feed about gun control and mental health.

"When I heard one of my business partners text me about this (manhunt), I thought he was joking," Mosher said.

Jessica Schlenoff, a high school tutor who works from home and lives in an adjacent apartment complex, was watching as agents wearing gas masks and protective jumpsuits swept through the building Saturday.

She has known Chamberlain for more than a decade and was shocked to learn his apartment was the one raided.

"It's so surprising. No one can believe it," she said.

Chamberlain, a Bay Area native, attended the University of Iowa before embarking on a career as a music journalist in Des Moines, according to his online resume. He later moved to San Francisco, and at age 30, made a bid for a spot on the Republican PartyCounty Central Committee in San Francisco, an organization that governs the local party and doles out critical endorsements.

During the 2012 NFL season, Chamberlain was an independent contractor for The Chronicle and tweeted and posted links to Facebook to boost coverage for the San Francisco 49ers Insider iPad app.

Most recently, he worked in public relations for several Bay Area tech, apparel and marketing companies.

'Got weird' after job loss

In November, he was let go from Project Sport, a San Francisco sports marketing company where he worked with professional athletes.

Randy Bramblett, 32, a professional cyclist and personal trainer in San Francisco, knew Chamberlain through Project Sport and would often get beers with him and others from the company after events.

Bramblett said that Chamberlain was "emotionally charged" and that when he lost his job he "got weird."

"The thing is, there was a lot of strange behavior since November," Bramblett said. "He stopped answering his phone. I think he became an extreme introvert."

While former co-workers may have lost touch with Chamberlain, he continued to post to social media using the Twitter handle@poliholic where he tweeted about sports, news and music. He made light of a recent viral Bay Area story where a mysterious man was hiding cash around San Francisco.

"Deft move@Hidden Cash, leaving $ in the pocket of that suit coat I rarely wear. I found it without a clue! But how'd you get into my apt?" Chamberlain tweeted Friday.

Chamberlain is listed as a lecturer at the University of San Francisco on the university's website. His profile touts his experience in journalism, public relations and marketing. Chamberlain taught one course for one semester as an adjunct professor in 2011, said Anne-Marie Devine, a spokeswoman for the university.